How to win a political debate: Propose marriage?

A Rhode Island mayoral candidate popped the question to his girlfriend at the end of a televised debate

Christopher Young, a Democratic candidate for mayor in Providence, RI, proposes to his girlfriend.
(Image credit: YouTube)

The video: Christopher Young, a Democratic candidate for mayor in Providence, RI, punctuated his closing statement in a televised debate this week by proposing to Kara Russo, his longtime girlfriend and campaign manager. From her seat in the audience, Russo, who is running for Congress and lieutenant governor as a Republican, shouted her acceptance. Young, beaming, placed a small box with an engagement ring on top of his podium. But, after television viewers tuned out and an online portion of the debate started, Young said it was a "conditional engagement" contingent on his election as mayor.

The reaction: Politically, Young may be nothing but a "perennial gadfly candidate," says Ted Nesi at WPRI.com, but his romantic proposal definitely "stole the show." Young's history of running and losing is noteworthy here, says Christine Mathias at Salon. If this really is a "conditional engagement," Russo shouldn't call the caterer just yet. Watch Young's proposal below:

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us